Congress attacks pay hike as ungenerous

NEW DELHI: The Congress party criticised the salary and pension hikes approved by the Cabinet on June 29, accusing the government of “deviating from the past practice” of improving upon the pay commission’s recommendations to ensure better benefits for employees. The party has also extended its support to calls by various labour unions for a strike from July 11 against the move.

“It was expected the committee constituted by the government to look into pay commission recommendations will recommend further improvement on the proposals, especially in the case of low-paid employees, including the armed forces,” AICC spokesperson Ajay Maken said. “But the committee failed to do so, at the behest of political bosses. Therefore, this is the worst recommendation in the 70-year history of pay commissions.”

Maken said: “The NDA government has accepted the report in toto (hike of just 14.27%) without giving any respite to the employees.”